Korean War willys jeep as a everyday car

[WWII_GI]

I was wondering how safe would a fully restored Korean War willys jeep be as a first car. I know it would be hard to register as a normal car. How much do they cost as complete and completely restored.

Thanks

I have a year or so till I can get a car.

[Awheeler]

The problem is that the gearing in those old jeeps make them slow. So, you would have to replace the transmission to make it modernday road worthy, and add the necessaries to make it legal: lights, seatbelts, ect..)

It would have no roof, and no key, so that makes it easy to steal when its parked outside the office or wherever. So more money to fix that problem. Also you might need to upgrade the engine to take non-leaded...

[WWII_GI]

Ok we'll that's probably not gonna happen I might just get one as a fun car or if I start reenacting. Anyone got any ideas on 80s or modern day military trucks that can be used like this?

[Mercenary25]

Why don't you buy Wrangler Jeep? It's more practical.

[PvtTamura]

I love my CJ5, and its 24 years newer.

 

That being said, it's an awful idea. The crash test rating of a motorcycle, with useless MPG, and low, low gearing.

 

Roll bar can be added with 3pt belts, a Warn Overdrive can be added compensate for the gearing, but in the end, after driving mine DD for a couple years, that's my opinion.

[WWII_GI]

I like a OD green CJ5 that is a possibility.

[PvtTamura]

Then let me provide some elaboration.

 

As you almost certainly know, the M38A1 or Willys Overland MD, is powered by the "Hurricane 4" F head engine.

An evolution of the "Go Devil" L head used in WWII.

 

The M38A1s, and their civilian counterparts, had a top speed with overdrive of about 50 mph at maximum. With the time it takes to wind up to speed, it's not very ideal for more than around town scenarios. In late 1965, Willys Overland (now called Kaiser-Jeep Corporation), bought the rights to the Buick "Fireball" 225 ci V6. Essentially a 300 ci V8 with two cylinders removed, it had a rough firing pattern, so Jeep added a 55 pound flywheel to dampen the engine.

 

They dubbed it the "Dauntless" V6, and threw it in Jeeps as an option from 66-71.

 

Many Jeeps from all time periods have had Buick V6s swapped in, an M38A1, or CJ5 with a V6 and a Warn Overdrive would comfortably do 60-70 mph, assuming the rest holds up.

 

 

They are ideal, as far as early Jeeps go, for DD duty.

[m1ashooter]

Then let me provide some elaboration.

 

As you almost certainly know, the M38A1 or Willys Overland MD, is powered by the "Hurricane 4" F head engine.

An evolution of the "Go Devil" L head used in WWII.

 

The M38A1s, and their civilian counterparts, had a top speed with overdrive of about 50 mph at maximum. With the time it takes to wind up to speed, it's not very ideal for more than around town scenarios. In late 1965, Willys Overland (now called Kaiser-Jeep Corporation), bought the rights to the Buick "Fireball" 225 ci V6. Essentially a 300 ci V8 with two cylinders removed, it had a rough firing pattern, so Jeep added a 55 pound flywheel to dampen the engine.

 

They dubbed it the "Dauntless" V6, and threw it in Jeeps as an option from 66-71.

 

Many Jeeps from all time periods have had Buick V6s swapped in, an M38A1, or CJ5 with a V6 and a Warn Overdrive would comfortably do 60-70 mph, assuming the rest holds up.

 

 

They are ideal, as far as early Jeeps go, for DD duty.

 

 

You are correct. My first vehicle in 1974 was a Willies CJ5 with a 4 cylinder. It would go 60 down hill. Since NJ didn't have many roads where you could go fast it was perfect for a redneck farm kid to have. I would be run over driving it in Houston. My brother had Buick V6 in his and it would fly.

[PvtTamura]

I've got a Buick V6 in my '68, moves pretty nicely.

[doyler]

You can also find the older Chevy Blazers and pickups fairly easy painted in Woodland camo and priced reasonably.I see them regularly here.

[Dave]

One of my former employees used to hit the local auto auctions where the state would sell off their surplus vehicles. He was able to pick up some nice vehicles this way, to include a 1980s Army-use pickup (it still had all the original paint and tactical markings) that had been used by the state forestry department. He used it as a DD, and it could easily go 70+ on the freeway. Of course, he paid an arm and a leg in gas...

 

Dave

[Dave]

It also all depends on where you plan to use this vehicle. My dad drove our 1943 GPW to work for several years. However, he had a 2 mile commute in a residential area to work, we lived in So Cal, so bad weather was rarely a factor, and he had a designated parking lot away from general public parking. With those factors, it made for a decent DD, though not for very long.

[Dave]

You can try watching the GSA website to see when or if ex military vehicles come up for sale: http://autoauctions.gsa.gov/autoauctions/home.seam

 

You can also check your local state auto auctions as well.

 

 

[WWII_GI]

Thanks guys

[reddevil1311]

We had a 42 Willys jeep as our everday transport in London, UK for 12 years (all through school). It was fine for driving around town and had no problem with the modern traffic. In fact, the elevated driving position was actually beneficial. In that time we were involved in two accidents, and on both occasions the Jeep's front and rear bumbers did their job well (one guy who cut a corner in front of us had the entire side of his car ripped open by the end of the front bumbper, which in turn bent a little bit! )

 

In terms of security we fitted a battery cut-off switch under the dash, and when ever it was parked we put a steering lock on that looped around the the steering wheel and the clutch pedal.

 

The engine had hardened valve seats inserted for use with unleaded petrol, and we fitted turn signals (using original black out marker lights mounted on the front fenders, and by removing the black out lense and replacing with yellow glass in the rear light units.

 

Under British law, vehicles produced before Jan 1st 1960 do not need turn signals, seat belts, mirrors or windscreen wipers if they were not fitted as standard when the vehicle was originally built. Despite this we fitted turn signals, vacuum wipers and mirrors on both sides for our safety and ease of use. Our jeep was also on it's original 6v electrics and on correct military bar tread tyres. We had a full winter canvas set for it, but as I am quite tall I mostly drove without the driver's door (but hung it back on when parked for added security - and to keep my seat dry!)

 

As stated above, top speed is around 50mph, so they are not that good on the interstate, but if you you can take the back roads etc, they are great!

 

Ashley

[reddevil1311]

Plus, with you being in Texas, there should be no problem registering a Jeep.

[A Gustaf B]

One factor that I have not seen mentioned is the maintenance issue, I have two 42 GPWs that I use daily on the farm, they require more maintenance than a modern car, brakes must be adjusted, engine tune ups are required, and the transmission and transfer cases are good for only about 30 to 50 thousand miles before requiring a rebuild and the engines are good for about 50 thousand miles as well. I acquired a Suzuki Vitera a few years ago from my father, he paid a fraction of the cost of a jeep for it, and since we have had it we have put 70 thousand miles bringing it up to nearly 200 thousand total. I have to put gas in it every month or so (it gets nearly 30 mpg to the jeeps 10 mpg) and change the oil now and then, other than that it is a vehicle that requires little maintenance and it will go 70 mph with ease compared to 63 screaming mph with the jeeps I owned a 75 CJ5 that was more trouble to keep running than the GPW, I bought the CJ5 new and struggled to get 18 thousand mile on it before I got rid of it, I bought my first GPW at the same time and still drive it regularly.

[Garandomatic]

Pretty sure the law exempts cars that were not originally equipped with signals and the like all across the US, too. My brother-in-law's brother has a 1960s Marine used jeep pickup truck that is pretty darned awesome, and though it might require a new engine, I think they can be had cheap.

[PvtTamura]

It may be so, but I wouldn't dare drive a Jeep without signals....

[WWII_GI]

Actually I just saw a 1960s British armored vehicle driving on the road today. I made my mom follow him and he stopped in a park and I. Got to climb on it and look around. He said he dosnt need a license plate because they use the military one painted on it. He also said all the police know him half of them have ride in it. It had 2 30 cal machine guns and I'm guessing a 40mm cannon.

[WWII_GI]

The only pics I could snap.

[Garandomatic]

I can understand that, for sure. For a while I had a '41 Plymouth coupe, but life changed before I really got to enjoy it. It too was turn-signal free, and it bothered me a little bit, especially with the kids and all. When I was younger and didn't give a damn, it'd be one thing. I wasn't so much suggesting someone, especially a new driver, not have turn signals as much as chiming in about most traffic laws. As an added caution, sometimes law enforcement knows enough about those kind of exemptions to ignore you, but just as often as not, a guy will have to have a copy of the motor vehicle law to prove they are in the right, too.

 

All that being said, I don't think it would matter in SOCAL! When I sold that '41, a guy from San Fran, I think it was, called me and in shooting the breeze, he mentioned just how horrible a lot of people are there. Around here, you get mad when someone changes lanes without a signal, there, using your signal means YOU'RE the jerk. If that's true, man... but I digress and am kind of running the post off topic.

 

Might be a cool seasonal daily driver if you can scrape together enough dough to have a beater.

 

It may be so, but I wouldn't dare drive a Jeep without signals....

[1stDivVet]

My first car was a 42 GPW that a farmer had used as a cheap tractor. He had cut a tailgate into it and added brake lites, but it still had no turn signals or seat belts. It had a 1950's military issue hard top and heater added to, which made it nice in the winter. It had been fitted with a pneumatic widshield wiper, but I replaced it with an electric one from a Toyota Land Cruiser. The pneumatic never worked right. It had a key start added also. It was converted to 12 volt, that was nice in the winter. I drove it for a few years until I got my dad's 73 Nova SS. Now it just sits in the corner of the garage. Wiring dry-rotted and I haven't bothered messing with it in a good 25 years. Was a lot of fun to drive, but... No radio, no space, no security. When I was a poor school boy, that was OK since I didn't have anything to steal. Not so much now tho. As far as the current laws, it is grand fathered in. Since it did not come standard with turn signals, marker lights, seat belts, or automatic wipers, it does not need them. My 67 Mustang GTA had neither marker lights nor seat belts, and the 68 I still have has rear seat belts, but no front ones. rear markers are red reflectors that don't lite. Never had any problems with the police about any of that with any of the Mustangs or the jeep. If you find one, a jeep would make a nice seasonal/weekend toy.

 

Fins...

[A Gustaf B]

All of the GPWs I have owned have had the original working turn signals, they work great and are self canceling so you do not have to worry about driving down the road with the signal left on. Hand signals do have limitations though, as they are not visible at night.

[General Apathy]

On 3/31/2013 at 1:01 AM, WWII_GI said:

I was wondering how safe would a fully restored Korean War willys jeep be as a first car. I know it would be hard to register as a normal car. How much do they cost as complete and completely restored.

Thanks

I have a year or so till I can get a car.

.

This post dates back to 2013,  so by now you would be driving , did you ever get a Jeep or if you didn't what did your first car turn out to be.  

 

regards lewis.

 

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